Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to predecisional duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate medical opinions and missed VA examinations. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board denied service connection for both a lower back condition and a cervical spine condition, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with scoliosis is granted, and an effective date of August 23, 2022, is established.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied, and his claims for right knee, left knee, right hand, left hand, GERD, neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss were also denied. The effective date of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted on December 14, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis and right hip degenerative arthritis, status post total hip arthroplasty, secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete etiological opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for athletes' foot, low back strain, and plantar fasciitis due to a lack of a VA examination prior to the August 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy have been granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent each, effective from February 28, 2025.

The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy, right upper extremity, is rated at 40 percent and cannot be increased.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent and cannot be increased.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are already at the maximum schedular rating of 50%.

The Board denied service connection for treatment purposes only under Chapter 17 for various conditions, including cervical spine condition, right upper extremity nerve condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, headache condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, right shoulder condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral pes planus, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left hip strain as secondary to lumbosacral strain have been granted. The claim for left hip strain is remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether it was caused or aggravated by the service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, a recurrent lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension due to potential errors in the examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and other disabilities have been granted, including a TDIU based on his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the severity of his low back disability, including whether he has experienced incapacitating episodes of IVDS.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of right shoulder disability and low back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of his low back condition, finding that it is related to his military service.

The appellant is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits, effective September 1, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected ankles, knees, and back have been granted initial 20 percent disability ratings.,Service connection has also been established for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reconsider the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, left knee, right hip, and lower back disabilities. The claim for left hip disability is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.